Florence Littauer1

Born: 1928 (age 8889)

Occupation: Author, speaker
Notable works: Personality Plus
Spouse: Fred Littauer (19532002, his death)
Children: 2 daughters, 1 son
Florence Littauer is a Christian self-help author and public speaker. Littauer is best known
for her series of books based upon the Personality Plus personality system. [1] She was listed
as one of Helen K. Hosier's "100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century" and
has received the National Speakers Association's Council of Peers Award for Excellence and
has been designated by them as a Certified Speaking Professional.[2][3]

Contents

1 Background

2 Personality Plus
o 2.1 Personality groups

3 Bibliography

4 References

5 External links

Background
Littauer grew up in her father's store in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with her sharing three
rooms with her family. Her parents were Walter and Katie F. Chapman. She attended the
University of Massachusetts on a scholarship,[4] where she received a Bachelor's degree in
English with a minor in psychiatry.[5]
Littauer met her husband Fred Littauer at a Jewish day camp for girls, with the two becoming
engaged about a year later.[6] The wedding was covered by Life Goes to a Wedding and the
two have had four children together. Their third child, Fred Jr "Freddie", died from issues
related to seizures he suffered during his infancy and their fourth child, Larry (deceased),
suffered from a brain disorder and was institutionalized.[6][7] During this time Littauer suffered
depression, which continued until she met Roy Gustafson, a member of the Billy Graham
Evangelistic Team.[5] From this meeting Littauer and her husband began a ministry, a public
speaking business, and a series of religious themed books. [8] The Littauers had another child
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Littauer

following Freddie's death. In October 2002, Fred died of a heart attack at their home while
Littauer was away on a speaking engagement. Behind the Personality: The Story of My Life
was in its final editing stages at that time and Littauer inserted a tribute to her late husband in
the final chapter of the book.[9]

Personality Plus
Personality groups

Powerful Cholerics are considered to be leader and commander types, being

dominant, strong, decisive, and occasionally arrogant. They tend to be good leaders
because they are driven to get things done, however they might offend some people
along the way. Cholerics are also known as the "Powerful" type. Some famous
examples are Phil Donahue, Bill Gates, Phil McGraw, Bill O'Reilly, and Oprah
Winfrey.[citation needed]

Perfect Melancholy personality types are described by Littauer to be the mental

types, with their personality displaying a strong emphasis on thinking, evaluation, and
assessment. Their typical behaviour involves thinking, assessing, making lists,
evaluating the positives and negatives, and general analysis of facts. They love maps,
charts and graphs. They are usually the most intelligent of the four types, however
they tend to dwell on details. A Melancholy is a planner, making sure things happen,
although sometimes they can paralyze themselves with over-analysis. Lists and
"doing things the right way" are characteristics of this personality type. Melancholies
are also known as the "Perfect" type. Some famous examples are Hillary Clinton,
Ernest Hemingway, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Vincent van Gogh.[citation needed]

Popular Sanguines are a social personality type, displaying characteristics such as a

predisposition to socialize and entertain. They enjoy fun, socializing, chatting, telling
stories - and are fond of promising the world, because that is the friendly thing to do.
A Sanguine gets on well with people and can get others excited about issues, but
cannot always be relied upon to get things done. They love interacting with others and
play the role of the entertainer or center of attention in group interactions. They have a
tendency to over-promise and under-deliver. Sanguines are also known as the
"Popular" type. Some famous examples are Bill Clinton, Kelly Ripa, Richard
Simmons, and Robin Williams.[citation needed]

Peaceful Phlegmatics are described as having a flat-type personality, being laid back
and desiring a peaceful environment above all else. They are easy going, laid back,
nonchalant, unexcitable and relaxed. Desiring a quiet and peaceful environment above
all else. They tend not to actively upset people, but their indifference may frustrate
people. They try not to make decisions, and generally go for the status quo. They are
good as mediators because they do not usually have many enemies. They also have a
"dry" and quick sense of humor. Phlegmatics are also known as the "Peaceful" type.
Some famous examples are Koffi Annan, Calvin Coolidge, Tim Duncan, Sandy
Koufax, and Keanu Reeves.[citation needed]

None of these types is specifically described as being positive or negative - hence the
combination of positive and negative adjectives (i.e. "Powerful" with "Choleric"). They each

have upsides and downsides. The characteristics are for observing and identifying, rather than
judging.

Bibliography

Your Personality Tree (1986)

The Best of Florence Littauer (1989)

Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement (1989)

Dare to Dream (1991)

Silver Linings: Breaking through the Clouds of Depression (1994)

The Gift of Encouraging Words (1996)

Personality Plus for Parents: Understanding What Makes Your Child Tick (2000)

A Letter is a Gift Forever: The Charm and Tradition of a Handwritten Note (2001)

It Takes So Little to Be Above Average (2001)

Personality Plus for Couples: Understanding Yourself and the One You Love (2001)

Setting the Stage for Your Child's Faith (2002)

Behind the Personality: The Story of My Life (2003)

Your Personality Tree (2005)

How to Get Along with Difficult People (2006)

Communication Plus: How to Speak So People Will Listen (2006)

Personality Plus at Work: How to Work Successfully with Anyone (2011)

Co-wrote with Fred

After Every Wedding Comes a Marriage (1997)

References
1.

 REYNOLDS, CYNTHIA FURLONG. The four basic types of personality Series:

CONNECTIONS. St. Petersburg Times. Jan 11, 1995, p4.D
The Fort Scott Tribune. All Paths Have Led Here: Florence Littauer As Speaker. Jan
31, 1996, p1-2
Hosier, Helen Kooiman. 100 Christian Women Who Changed the Twentieth Century.
Baker Publishing Group. 2000, p42-48
Ludington Daily News. Win-some Women Retreat Set. Oct 6, 1963, p6
Weldon, Ann. I Had To Humble Myself. Florence Littauer Gave Her Life To Jesus
Christ After Life's Tragedies Forced Her Into total Defeat. The Evening Independent. Nov 8,
1980, p8A
Miller, Betty Jean. Ladies Prayer Luncheon: Florence Littauer... Some Things Are
More Important Than Success. The Evening Independent. Nov 4, 1980, Section B
Fenning, Esther Talbot. AUTHOR'S STORY OF GETTING ON WITH LIFE FOCUS
OF TALK. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 17, 1995, p4
Stewart, Rose Russell. What We Say can Destroy or Make a Success of a Life. Toledo
Blade. Nov 15, 1988, p21
In Memoriam: Fred Littauer